Elon Musk Lays Off Tesla's Supercharger Team

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May 03, 2024

Image copyright: Justin Sullivan/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images North Americastory last updated May 14

The Facts

Elon Musk has reportedly laid off Tesla's entire Supercharger division — which is responsible for building electric vehicle (EV) charging stations — sparking concerns among EV makers.
The 500-member team was fired earlier this week, as Tesla reportedly backed out of four Supercharger location leases in the New York City area.

The Spin

Narrative A

With zero notice to his employees and EV partners, Elon Musk's rash decision will disrupt the entire industry. Musk's erratic behavior undermines and negates any progress his companies make, as has happened here with the complete derailment of the proliferation of Tesla charging stations just as they were set to become the de facto standard. In pursuit of short-term cost cutting, Musk has hurt Tesla and the future of an industry he purports to love.

Verge

Narrative B

The reactions to Tesla's layoffs of the Supercharger team are vastly overblown, and the company is still looking to grow its network. Like any business, Tesla can only commit to profitable departments. EV makers are still committed to joining Tesla's network, and the only result of Musk's decision is that charging stations will be built at a slower pace. Tesla has a lot of ongoing projects, and these layoffs will enable other developments to thrive.